Levashov Pyotr

2017

Hacker detained in Spain at the request of the United States arrested in absentia in Russia

Vasileostrovsky District Court of St. Petersburg arrested in absentia programmer Pyotr Levashov, whose extradition to the United States was approved by the Spanish judicial authorities, the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office said. It is reported by RIA Novosti

According to the agency, Levashov was arrested in absentia for hacking and blocking information on the website of one of the medical institutions in St. Petersburg. The investigation found that between May 15 and June 10, 2014 he committed "unlawful access to information," acting "out of self-interest." "The Vasileostrovsky District Court of St. Petersburg issued a decision on the detention of Levashov," the Prosecutor General's Office said in response to a request from the agency.

Spanish court allowed extradition to the United States

A Madrid court allowed the extradition to the United States of Russian Pyotr Levashov, who is suspected of hacking. Earlier, Levashov himself stated at the trial that in the United States he would be "tortured" and killed within a year or he himself would commit suicide.

"Spam King" said that he worked for "United Russia"

Russian programmer Pyotr Levashov, one of the ten most dangerous hackers in the world according to the Spamhaus organization, said during a court hearing in Madrid that he had worked for United Russia for the past 10 years and was an officer of the Russian army with a classified military accounting specialty, RIA Novosti reports. At the same time, he did not give any evidence of his words.

During a court hearing in Madrid, Levashov spoke out against extradition to the United States, since the US authorities can force him to give out classified information. According to Levashov, he "over the past ten years has worked for United Russia, collected various information about opposition parties and was engaged in bringing this information to the right people at the right time."

On September 20, Russia also appealed to the Spanish side with a request for the extradition of Levashov. The programmer said that he did not know what the essence of the charges against him in the Russian Federation was.

On September 20, Russia also appealed to the Spanish side with a request for the extradition of Levashov. The programmer said that he did not know what the essence of the charges against him in the Russian Federation was.

Detention

In April 2017, the US Department of Justice announced the detention of Russian programmer Pyotr Levashov, who is called the "king of spam" for creating a large Kelihos botnet, which consisted of more than 100 thousand infected computers and was used to spread viruses and spam. Levashov was arrested in Barcelona.

The operation that we announce today affects the existing international scheme to distribute hundreds of millions of fraudulent letters a year, intercept credentials from financial and other accounts owned by thousands of Americans, as well as distribute extortion software, the US Department of Justice said in a statement on April 10, 2017.[1]

Arrest of Peter Levashov by Barcelona police

Levashov was charged  in Alaska federal court with  two counts   of Internet fraud  and illegal interception of electronic messages. It is clarified that many years ago cases were opened against Levashov  in Michigan  and Washington.

According to the FBI, by April 2017, the Kelihos botnet includes from 25 thousand to 100 thousand computers, 5-10% of which are in the United States. Through Kelihos, hundreds of millions of emails are sent advertising fake drugs, small stocks and scams with homework, as well as extortion viruses.

It is noted that in the case of Kelihos, a new law created specifically for operations to eliminate botset networks was first applied. We are talking about the amendments to the US Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure adopted in 2016. According to these legislative changes, law enforcement agencies have the right to monitor bots and transmit their IP addresses to national Computer Security Rapid Response Teams (CERT).

According to ABC News, Peter Levashov has long been on  the list of the "ten worst spammers of the world," which is an independent organization Smaphaus. In April 2017, the Russian was  in this ranking in  sixth position.

2018

US extradition

As it became known on February 2, 2018, the suspected cybercrime Peter Levashov was transferred. Spain USA This was reported to the correspondent TASS by a source in the national police of the kingdom.

The US Department of Justice previously announced the liquidation computers of the Kelihos network, infected virus and under control, hackers which were thus engaged in malicious activities, including data collection and distribution. Levashov spam is accused of involvement in the network. Using a virus directed against computers with, operating system Microsoft Windows attackers were able to collect any information about their owners and other persons, intercepting data flows.

The Russian Embassy in Spain previously reported that a request from the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation for the extradition of Pyotr Levashov to Russia was transmitted to the Spanish authorities. In addition, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov stated that Moscow is categorically against the extradition of Russian citizens "to foreign states, in this case to the United States."^[2]

2021: $3.5 million fine for computer fraud

In July 2021, Peter Levashov, whom the American media call the "king of spam," was sentenced to 33 months in prison in the United States on charges of computer fraud, theft of personal data and criminal conspiracy. However, the Russian has already served this term, having been imprisoned since 2018. At the same time, according to the court order, the programmer will have to pay $3.5 million in damages.

A Connecticut federal court has postponed the imposition of a fine until it receives additional information about the financial situation of the Russian. He may be deported to his homeland, otherwise he will be placed under the special supervision of the American authorities for three years.

Russian "spam king" Pyotr Levashov in the United States sentenced to a term already served and a fine of $3.5 million

The prosecutor's office demanded for Levashov at least 12 years in prison. As the judge noted, when sentencing, he took into account the fact that the Russian has been away from home and family for a long time.

As aggravating circumstances, the prosecutor called the large damage caused by Levashov, the presence of ten or more victims and the intentional nature of criminal actions. Among the mitigating circumstances, the prosecution indicated that Levashov pleaded guilty.

According to the US Department of Justice, Levashov was the creator of the three most famous cybercrime in history: botnets Storm Worm, Waledac and Kelihos, which are able to send billions of spam messages daily. He is known by the nickname Petr Severa, which he used on the hacker Antichat forum.

The prosecution claimed that Peter Levashov controlled botset for more than ten years. One of them probably infected 200 thousand computers. It is alleged that the Russian sent out "billions of messages with spam," including with malicious links.

In Russia, Levashov was arrested in absentia for hacking and blocking information on the website of one of the medical institutions in St. Petersburg.^[3]

Notes